Five Case Studies

Case Study #1

Subject Name: Robert

Sex, Age and Marital Status: Male, 19, single

Occupation: College Student, summer lifeguard

Personal Background: Upper middle class family, parents never divorced, 1

brother and 1 sister. Raised in and remains active in L.D.S. church.

The Incident:

Robert has worked for 3 summers as a lifeguard at the Desert Shores

Community Association Lagoon Pool, and is now lifeguard supervisor. The
Lagoon, as it is known, is a naturally shaped, concrete lined and sand
covered swimming pool designed to look like a tropical lagoon. It is irregular
in shape, surrounded by palm trees and includes a beach around the
swimming area as well as a large picnic and recreation area that will
accommodate a large crowd of members.

On Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, 1998 there were approximately

1,500+ members at the Lagoon, enjoying a picnic and family swimming. As
described by Robert, there were so many people in the lagoon you could
barely see the water. With 3 lifeguard stands, and several lifeguards on duty
and rotating time on the stands, plus those not on the stands working the
crowd, Robert felt that even though things were busy they were under
control. At the appropriate time Robert approached a stand to relieve
another guard, Tyler. Robert climbed up into the stand, sat down, began
scanning the water and crowd, and immediately saw a child floating face up
about a foot beneath the surface of the water. He jumped from the stand,
entered the water, pulled the child out and observed that her skin was white,
her lips blue, her eyes rolled back in her head. There was no respiration and
no pulse. He immediately began CPR, thinking to himself: "She’s dead" and
"what if she’s dead" and other thoughts about the consequences of a
drowning. He worked on the child for what he estimated to be 3 minutes with
no response, then the child coughed but failed to breath. He continued
working and after about another 30 seconds the child began to cough, cry
and breath. Her color began to return as the paramedics arrived and took the
child away to be checked at the hospital. The parents had been standing at
Robert’s side the entire time he was working on resuscitating the child. The
hospital reported there was no brain damage and no broken ribs (common as
a result of CPR).

Response to Event:

I interviewed Robert approximately 7 weeks after the event occurred. At the

time of contact he indicated a willingness to discuss the event and an
appointment was made for the following day for a interview. Using a
standard interview outline, containing questions considered pertinent to the
diagnosis of P.T.S.D., an informal, conversational interview of approximately
one hour in length was held. In the course of that interview the following
occurrences, symptomatic of P.T.S.D., were revealed:

1) Nightmares about the event in which the rescue effort was unsuccessful
were experienced; the first occurred on the third night after the event, the
second on the following night. Both were extremely violent and traumatic;

2) Numerous spontaneous daytime flashbacks/daydreams with a pattern

similar to the nightmares were experienced. These were numerous and
recurring during the subsequent week. Less violent cued responses to event
familiar stimuli, including elevated heart beat, continued for another 2 to 3
weeks.

3) Some sense of detachment and estrangement occurred, though subject

was not consciously aware of it until the interview. At the interview the
subject realized he had not had sex with his girlfriend since the incident
occurred, whereas prior to the incident they had engaged in sex about once
a week. But, there was also a greater closeness with parents involving much
greater daily communications.

4) Some sense of hypervigilance in the workplace and in non-working

circumstances.

5) In the course of the interview it became clear Robert was to some extent
blaming himself for the near drowning. He has not yet realized that he was
not in a position to observe the victim at the time she actually went under
water and that it was his assumption of active lifeguarding when he relieved
Tyler that actually resulted in the saving of the child.

Follow-up Activities:

There was no suggestion by anyone involved with Robert in the workplace or

among his family or among all those he came in contact with as a result of
the event, that he might benefit from any type of counseling. In fact, no one,
including the employer, even debriefed him and asked him to recount the
event. And no one, including closest family, asked him to recount his
personal reactions and experience. Rather than asking about his feelings, or
the event, the general inquiry was "Are you doing ok?" or something similar.
Other interviews revolved around the human interest aspects of the event as
a newsworthy item but paid no attention to any trauma he experienced. At
the close of the interview, after I thanked him for his time, he thanked me for
listening to him.

Summary:

Robert experienced a traumatic event with a happy ending; the victim did
not drown. Nevertheless, for a full month after the event he experienced
active symptoms that upset him and upset his life and work and social
habits. His lack of sexual activity continued even longer than a month. By
DSM-IV standards it is questionable if he actually developed P.T.S.D., in as
much as active symptoms appear to have continued barely 4 weeks. It is
more likely he only experienced many of the diagnostic symptoms of the
disorder.

Case Study #2

Subject Name: John

Sex, Age and Marital Status: Male, 27, married (age 24, single, at time of
incident)

Occupation: Landscape Contractor/Supervisor

Personal Background: Upper middle class family, lost biological father in

accident as toddler, mother remarried happily, parents never divorced,
brothers and sisters. Raised in L.D.S. church but left the church a number of
years ago.

The Incident:

September 16, 1995, Salt Lake City, Utah.

John had known Allan Evans since boyhood, though being 2 years older they
were not good friends in public school. John was a leader in High School,
president of the student body and an athlete. His younger life was marred by
the tragic death of his father in an explosion when he was a toddler, though
his mother remarried happily and ultimately relocated to the town where
John grew up. His stepfather, who he considers his father, is a loving and
sacrificing man, caring deeply for his family, and his mother is described as a
very loving person as well. Attending State University John’s life was, at
times, a bit confused, his desire for social normalcy conflicting with his
Mormon upbringing. His desires for social normalcy prevailed at this time,
and neither he nor his wife are active in the L.D.S. faith today. But, confusion
brings strife; he experienced arrest and serious penalty for D.U.I. as well as
for writing bad checks. Finally, in an effort to extricate himself and set
himself on a new track, he accepted a job, with his parents’ blessing, with
Club Med and over a 2 year period worked in the Caribbean and Mexico.
During his college years his acquaintance with Allan Evans blossomed into an
all encompassing and truly great friendship. The two became true bosom
buddies, doing everything together, going everywhere together, and sharing
together the burden of John’s problems. But, at no time did Allan share his
burdens with John; Allan was, and had been since childhood, subject to
profound depression and had, at age 10, made his first attempt at suicide.
He was, unknown to John, seriously manic-depressive, had over the years
been in thus far unproductive psychotherapy and had been prescribed
various anti-depressants, the final prescription being for Zoloft which he
never took. At the time John left his home town to work at Club Med he and
Allan remained in close contact and when John visited home in the fall of
1994, prior to transferring to a Club Med in Mexico, Allan asked John to see if
he could get him a job. When John arrived at the Club Med in Mexico and told
the staff about Allan -- his good looks, his charm, his athletic ability, his rock
climbing skills which could be utilized in the resort’s recreation program --
they told John they’d hire Allan and within a week Allan was in Mexico and at
work. During the ensuing months the friendship grew stronger and now
included the friendship of John’s then fiancée, and future wife, Karen. The
three became inseparable, doing everything together. As described by John,
his bond with Allan seems as strong a relationship of platonic love as I’ve
ever encountered. But, life in paradise was to come to an end. In the spring
of 1995 all 3, John, Karen, and Allan, returned to the states to resume a life a
bit less fantasy filled. After visiting at home, John and Karen settled in Salt
Lake City, John working for a landscaping company, Karen for Nordstrom
department stores. And, after a summer at home, working as a greenskeeper
at a local private golf club, Allan moved to Salt Lake City on Labor Day
weekend, joining the same company John was working for and living with
John and Karen as their roommate in their 2 bedroom apartment. The good
life continued briefly, but it appeared to be a good healthy young adult life;
partying but not to excess, evenings on the town having too much to drink
sometimes, and working hard at their jobs during the day. But it all came to
an end the night of September 15th. There was a bar-b-q at the home of John
and Allan’s boss. A good, fun time. Following that, there was a visit to a bar --
more drinks and a few games of pool. Everyone was having fun, Allan was
playing host, but by about 2:00 a.m. John knew he needed to go home. He’d
had too much to drink. So he and Karen left -- Allan said he’d catch a ride
with someone else; and he did. At home, John and Karen went to bed -- they
were out like lights. John said he sleeps incredibly soundly. Karen, awaking at
some point to go to the bathroom, notices Allan’s bedroom light is on; good,
he made it home! She goes back to bed. Morning: John and Karen awake,
share a few thoughts, and John gets up, followed by Karen. She heads to the
kitchen to make coffee. John, seeing Allan’s light still on through his cracked
door, goes to peek in. He finds Allan lying on the floor beyond the bed,
ghostly white, blood pooled around his head; dead. Shock. He turns, goes to
the kitchen, Karen is working with the coffee, John says: Allan is dead. Karen,
not seeing John, says: Don’t joke, this isn’t funny. But then she turns and
sees him and knows things are bad and John is not joking. The Dance has
ended (Arata/Brooks, 1989).

Response to Event:

John was interviewed nearly 3 years after the event. His memories and
emotions are vivid and raw:

Shock, disbelief, semi-hysterical feelings, a call to 911. Question from 911:

Are you sure he’s dead? A return to the bedroom, and for the first time
spotting the gun in Allan’s lap. 911 dispatches help immediately upon
hearing of the presence of a gun. Arrival of an emergency crew from only 4
blocks away -- John hears the sirens as they approach. A good,
compassionate crew, though fears on John’s part they might blame him.
What if they think he shot Allan? The body is removed within about 30
minutes, John and Karen are questioned, tell what they know. The authorities
ask them not to contact anyone until they can contact Allan’s family. He tells
the emergency crew he wants to be with his mommy. John calls his sister
anyway. He needs to talk to someone. Conversations with a coroner’s
assistant ensue; also a call to a cleaning company to clean up the brains and
blood; an $800 quote. Next step: Get home to be near Allan’s family and his
own. What if Allan’s family blame him? What if they hold him responsible for
Allan’s death? A mostly wordless drive home (6.5 hours), some clarity of
thought -- "I can handle this," -- a brief telephone conversation with an uncle
as they pass through an Idaho town. Arrival in the home town on Saturday
evening. His parents come out to greet them: "John, you look good." John is
internally outraged: "Don’t tell me you’re glad to see me and I look good. Tell
me how sorry you are for me. Make me feel something other than the horror
I feel about my best friend, a man I loved as much or more than any brother,
blowing his brains out and leaving me behind to find him and deal with this.
Then, the necessary visit to Allan’s parents home; the fear of blame, but
Allan’s father greets John with love and concern: "John, I want you to know
we don’t blame you for any of this." Relief, but then enormous emotional
chaos when Allan’s father tells John he wants him to be the one to contact
the boys’ mutual friends, fraternity brothers, etc. John consents and spends
several hours on the phone, then spends several hours meeting and talking
to friends and acquaintances
Follow-up Activities:

John experiences constant reminders on a daily basis, even now 3 years

later. Triggered by sounds, songs, situations of familiarity they are strongly
emotional and result in feelings of detachment as well as emotional response
through crying. Never a day passes without an incident of some sort. There
were strong nightmares at first, now occasional nightmares, but Allan’s
presence in dreams that are not unpleasant also occurs with some regularity.
Initially there were intense sleep disturbances, but they are lesser now,
though still exist. Mental images are incredibly strong and fear of disaster
lurks behind every event. Cues easily set traumatic memories in motion.
While there was some temporary loss of appetite, normalcy returned. But
today John feels strongly he has a significant stomach ulcer as a result of the
ongoing traumatic stress. There is a strong sense of wanting to be done with
this, and a fear of consequences, including thoughts of suicide, if he doesn’t
get over this, but he welcomed opportunity to talk with me. While there is no
desire to return to the location of the event, his memories are vivid and
include exceptional detail.

Among the residual emotions are a strong sense of feelings of estrangement

from people who won’t recognize the severity of his emotions or the
magnitude of the event. But he feels stronger than ever feelings of love and
closeness to his wife, Karen, who shared the actual event and shared for a
time some of the friendship. Included in his feelings is a real, and repeatedly
vocalized, fear of taking his own life in response to being unable to get past
this. Persistent sleep problems aggravate his emotions, and his
temperament which is by nature solid and easy going could drift to volatility
without great self control.

John remains close with his parents even though his immediate response was
that his parents didn’t respond properly to him at the immediate time of the
event. They said he looked good and were glad he was all right which was
nice but, in his opinion, not appropriate considering what he had just
experienced. There is no real change in his relationship with his parents; he
loves them very much though appears confused a bit. John is closer now
than ever to his wife Karen, discusses how they rely on each other for
ongoing support.

His friends were open about the incident at the time; curious and loving. But
John had already left college and many of the old relationships were
dwindling at that time so no real change with most. There was anger, which
persists to now, at some who failed to respond appropriately to the incident
and John’s feelings.
Allan’s parents told John they were going to sort of "adopt" him in Allan’s
absence. John said it seemed strange to have them say that, but now he now
talks with them as he never did when Allan was alive. When Allan was alive
they were Allan’s parents and he viewed them as such and had no closeness
with them at all.

Summary:

John is a strong, intelligent, clear thinking and well spoken young man who
has experienced a personal horror no one should have to experience. He is,
without question, suffering chronic P.T.S.D. at an intense level. His love for
his wife is a godsend and I’d love to meet her at some time. I feel deep
concern for him, though, and feel an intense need to help him find assistance
for both himself and Karen. He describes a relationship with Karen that
concerns me in only one respect: His dependence on her, and her possible
reciprocal dependence, may be more burden than either of them is equipped
to bear. The same horrors faced and lived together need to be exorcised
from their daily lives through the intervention of a third party on whom they
can unload. It is incredible to me that my conversation with him was the first
thorough emotional debriefing he has had since the suicide, and that no one,
including Allan’s father who is a mental health professional, or another
Psychiatrist who was involved in helping John and Karen extricate
themselves from the lease on the apartment where the suicide occurred,
intervened with some level of force urging them to seek therapeutic help.

Case Study #3

Subject Name: Martha

Sex, Age and Marital Status: Female, 20 (at time of event, 60 now) , married

Occupation: Rancher

Personal Background: Upper middle class family, of pioneer, self sufficient

stock, parents divorced, limited involvement in Episcopal church

The Incident:

Martha had married Bill over 5 years before the incident. They were, at the
time, a happy and settled young couple. With ample landholdings passed to
Bill by his maternal family, they were financially secure and Bill, with his
military service and college behind him, had settled in to be a Montana
rancher for the rest of his life. The oldest child, Alan, came without surprise
and was welcomed with thoughts of several more children to come. The next
child Rick was welcomed equally enthusiastically and he was followed shortly
by a daughter, Kay.

Martha was busy. There was a lot to do on a ranch and the demands of ranch
life, coupled with those of mothering 3 small children, were just about
enough to wear her down at times. It was morning, time to get going, time to
load the 3 children into the truck and go to town. As Martha was readying
baby Kay for the trip, Alan and Rick loaded themselves into the truck.
Working away, somewhat preoccupied, Martha suddenly started, concerned
with an oversight on her part. She and Bill were hunters and there was still a
rifle hanging in the truck. Better tell the boys to keep their hands off. A quick
adjustment to the diaper, grabbing Kay, Martha heads for the door, pushing
it open and simultaneously beginning a call to the boys: Hands off the gun.
It’s not a toy. But she’s interrupted: She sees Rick pointing the gun at Alan,
playing, and then in a deadly game, Rick pulls the trigger.

Response to Event:

Shock, disbelief: "This isn’t real. We’re always so careful with guns. This can’t
possibly be happening. Only idiots leave guns where children can reach
them." An overwhelming anguish engulfs Martha -- an inability to respond to
the horror witnessed.

Follow-up Activities:

This event which occurred over 40 years ago evokes such strong memories
and responses Martha has difficulty recounting them. She will, she says,
ultimately work her way through the entire event with me, from beginning to
end. She hasn’t done that with anyone else before, only in her own mind.
The process is one of going very slowly and allowing for a lot of breathing
time. She says she’ll recount it all, from beginning to end. But what she
hasn’t realized yet, is that at this point there is no end: There has been no
closure yet.

Summary:

The death of one’s own child is perhaps the second most emotionally
traumatic event that can be experienced, falling just after the death of one’s
spouse (presuming a happy marriage). I am unable to locate source
materials that rank the witnessing by a parent of the death of one’s child as
the result of the sudden and violent accidental actions of another of one’s
children. The impact of the event on Martha, Bill, Rick, Kay, and the final
child to be born in the future, Carl, remains to be explored. In jumping
ahead, one significant fact has been discovered: At no time has any person,
in any capacity, suggested any kind of counseling. And, the interview to this
point, is revealing symptoms of chronic P.T.S.D.

Case Study #4

Subject Name: Tim

Sex, Age and Marital Status: Male, 17, single

Occupation: High School Junior

Personal Background: Middle class Hispanic family, member of Roman

Catholic Church, attends church though not regularly

The Incident:

It is the last week of school, the day has been fun -- no real classroom work,
no assignments to be dealt with at night, a winding down of the activities of
the past year. The morning has, in fact, been sort of boring with little to
engage the interest of the young men who are such good friends. But, all in
all, life is good and the summer stretches ahead. There’ll be a little work, and
the freedom from responsibility of school and the ensuing play time is
eagerly anticipated. Tim’s good friend, Ron, has it good. His family has done
well, well enough in fact for Ron to be driving a late model convertible. Yes,
he paid for some of it, but mostly the car came to him from loving parents.

But, the morning is dragging. This school has no lunch period. School begins
at 7 a.m. and releases at just after 1 p.m. But, the boys are hungry, thirsty
and restless. Let’s escape briefly during the 10 minute nutrition break; the
school’s offering of snacks does not tempt: A daring foray to the nearest 7-
11 to grab some junk food, returning before getting caught during the
schools nutrition break seems like a fun and exciting adventure. The signal
indicates dismissal for the nutrition break and the three race for Ron’s car.
Last one there is a loser! Into the car, a quick exit from the parking lot, and
then a mad race down the street to the main artery that leads to the 7-11.
Entry onto the main street, floor the gas pedal. Let’s go! And then,
something happens. Ron loses control of the car, it veers to the right from
the road, hits a sign, a post, and in an attempt to correct and prevent more
damage, Ron overcorrects, the car rolls and then it is over. Silence broken by
creaking sounds, hissing sounds, dripping sounds, whirring sounds.
But, most of these details are remembered later, through a haze. Most of the
actual physical events of the accident are a jumble of thoughts. Tim lost
consciousness at some point in the accident. The aftermath: Ron lies dead;
Tim and the other passenger are injured but will recover.

Response to Event:

Tim simply would not talk much about the event at this point. He has been
advised, by his family’s attorney to have no detailed discussion beyond the
actual event with me. Legal action against Ron’s family’s insurance carrier is
pending. I am asking the attorney to reconsider. Tim has not been
counseled. The attorney is seeking damages based on lingering physical
symptoms, the emotional symptoms being, at this time, immaterial to that
case (see footnote, page 8; Harvard Mental Health Letter, July 1996, p. 4) . I
have, in discussion with Tim’s family, explained P.T.S.D. and its ramifications
and believe, based on their guarded responses, that Tim is suffering P.T.S.D.
at some level. While my discussions with Tim and his family are not
intended, in any way, to further a lawsuit seeking damages as a result of the
accident, it may be greed, and the attorney’s interest in potential gain
through a P.T.S.D. diagnosis, that will ultimately get Tim some therapeutic
help.

Follow-up Activities:

This event which occurred only 3 months ago is far from closed. Tim, and
hundreds of other young people, experience extraordinarily traumatic
accidents with an incidence that is mind boggling. And yet, to date, no one
has suggested counseling: no priest, no school counselor, no physician, not
even the lawyer prior to my introduction to the scene.

Summary:

I intend to stay in touch with Tim’s family and hope to complete this study.
And, I hope Tim will receive some counseling. He appears eager to talk with
me but is, at present, constrained from doing so.

Case Study #5

Subject Name: Lisa

Sex, Age and Marital Status: Female, 30, married happily, one child, age 2
Occupation: Homemaker

Personal Background: from a middle class family with whom she maintains
close contact, has 1 brother, no church involvement

The Incident:

Lisa’s first pregnancy was uneventful and the baby boy arrived without
incident. Lisa and her husband were delighted. Life was good, Aaron’s job
was a good one, and they had no financial or other worries. More children
would be in order soon. Before Aaron junior’s first birthday there was good
news: Lisa was pregnant again, the baby would come in the fall. The
pregnancy proceeded without notable incident. There was one scare: A little
blood spotting on Lisa’s underwear. But, upon examination the doctor
declared everything ok and the pregnancy continued. Due in December, by
November Lisa was ready. She was heavy set already, and the burden of the
pregnancy was wearing on her. That plus chasing around a toddler.

Then, unexpectedly, there were early and unexpected contractions. But, the
contractions didn’t feel normal. There was, Lisa sensed, something not quite
right. She was hospitalized and examination revealed a fetus in distress.
Something was definitely wrong. After 24 hours delay a decision to induce
and force the delivery. The delivery was not good, and the results of the
delivery devastating: A baby boy, suffering mongolism, brain dead but with,
at birth, a heartbeat. Life support was begun. But, within 24 hours reality
prevailed: Lisa and Aaron sadly agreed to disconnect life support and the
baby died within minutes. There is a great sense of loss, a mourning for this
child that was given a name. A full funeral is conducted at a funeral parlor
with the family and close friends attending. Lisa and Aaron decide that this
child will not be slighted: They take the body back to the mid-west for burial
in a family plot. Now life can continue.

Several months pass. Lisa’s physician declares her healthy and fully
recovered and Lisa and Aaron decide to once again let nature take its
course. Perhaps she’ll become pregnant again.

Success, another pregnancy is confirmed. But, within 3 weeks there are

problems: Spotting of blood again. Absolute emotional panic ensues. How
can this be happening again? Is everything ok? Am I going to lose this baby
too? A rush to the doctor who confirms her worst fears: The fetus has died.
Within 48 hours Lisa’s body spontaneously expels the dead fetus.

Then the most devastating revelation: Lisa and Aaron have an Rh

incompatibility problem. The doctors are aware of it. At any sign of troubles
Rhogam has been administered to Lisa to assure she is not sensitized.
Sensitization inevitably results in the near impossibility to bear more
children. But, at some point, subsequent to Aaron junior’s birth, probably
during the pregnancy with the full term Mongoloid child, there was a rupture,
however small, that allowed mixing of fetal and maternal blood, and resulted
in her sensitization. It may be impossible for Lisa to bear additional children.

Response to Event:

Anger, grief, disbelief and the search for a medical procedure to assist in the
successful delivery of another child. Intra-uterine blood transfusions can be
done, and have been successful. But there is uncertainty and there are
absolutely no guarantees of success. The pregnancy might be aborted
through the transfusion process, or the transfusion might produce a
damaged baby. Sleeplessness, dreams, hallucinations of death of her other
child, edginess, overprotectiveness, and a myriad of P.T.S.D. symptoms
begin to emerge. And this event occurred only 3 weeks ago, in late July
1998.

The event which occurred is ongoing, the reality of the recent miscarriage
still being assimilated, and the uncertainty about her childbearing future
being a major preoccupation. Lisa is suffering, though how long the suffering
will continue is uncertain. But, one things that is certain is that to date, no
one has suggested counseling: there is no clergy in Lisa’s life, her parents
are deeply moved by her plight but are unequipped to assist her, and the
person who should be concerned with her mental condition, her physician,
hasn’t said a word to her about her psychological condition. His concerns are
entirely physiological in nature.

Summary:

I have regular contact with Lisa and Aaron and I will be able to follow their
progress through this event. I intend, if I perceive continuing problems, to
encourage Lisa, and probably Aaron, to seek counseling from some source.

Summary Note

As my research on this subject progressed and in particular as I discovered

that among my five case studies there had been no effort at, or direction to,
counseling, I made an earnest effort to determine if there was, in the public
domain, any method of support readily available to individuals exposed to
individual traumatic events who are suffering from P.T.S.D. The answer to my
question, at this time, is no. I would like to be proved wrong, but a search of
every source I have been able to access (U.N.L.V. Library, Las Vegas-Clark
County Library System, various Internet search engines) has revealed only
one organized support group dealing with victims of Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder. That organization, in its infancy, is based in British Columbia,
Canada. The State of Nevada Mental Hygiene Division provides some limited
crisis intervention services and also provides counseling on a group and
individual basis on a case by case basis but when quizzed about P.T.S.D.
sufferers had no readily available suggestions for treatment. There are no
support groups devoted to the victims.

But, a return to, and review of, the statistics of traumatic incident, and the
probable correlation between those statistics and the development of
P.T.S.D. cases, raises a serious question: With so many minds at stake, and
so much potential and actual counter-productive social dysfunction resulting
from the disorder, shouldn’t there, at a minimum, be a readily available
volunteer support group for sufferers of P.T.S.D.? And shouldn’t public
employees, particularly police officers and emergency medical technicians,
who are frequently first on the scene of serious accidents be encouraged to
offer, out of simple human compassion and concern, a referral card directing
the potential P.T.S.D. victim to a source of help? Shouldn’t physicians,
recognizing that traumatic incident has occurred, even though P.T.S.D. may
not be present at the time of the occurrence, be aware of the need for
assistance? Shouldn’t they at least suggest seeking counseling? Recognizing
the passage from history of the years of generous government funding to
provide even marginally adequate public mental health services, is there not
great logic in seeking and assisting in the establishment of voluntary support
groups?

Perhaps continued study and better education about and understanding of

P.T.S.D. within the general public is needed. Given that study, and a more
complete presentation to the public of a clear picture of the problems and
needs of sufferers and potential sufferers, perhaps a nationwide network of
volunteer support groups, comparable to Alcoholics Anonymous or
Compassionate Friends will emerge. I hope so and I intend to work to that
end.

Don Stewart 2002

http://faculty.unlv.edu/stewart/images/casestudies.htm
, Department of Sociology at the University of Nevada